Sacrifices: Shadow Grail #3    by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill Order:  USA  Can Tor, 2013 (2013) Hardcover, Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Sacrifices is the third (following Legacies and Conspiracies) of four in the dark and enthralling Shadow Grail series by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill. After losing her parents and sister in a car accident in Legacies, Spirit White was sent to a boarding school for orphaned young magicians, run by Doctor Ambrosius. There, her Affinity (for Earth, Air, Fire or Water) was slow to manifest. Spirit befriended Loch, gifted in Shadewalking, Kenning and Pathfinding; illusionist Muirin; Addie, skilled in water magic; and combat magician Burke. They defeated the Wild Hunt. In Conspiracies, Spirit noticed runic markings on the entry hall oak tree (reputed to be where Nimue imprisoned Merlin). New student Elizabeth, who claimed to be the Reincarnate Yseult, spoke of a long struggle between Grail and Shadow Knights. After students were attacked by hooded riders, the school was taken over by Mark and Theodore Rider, CEOs of Breakthrough Adventure Systems. Spirit was contacted through the Internet by Quercus. As Sacrifices opens, Spirit wonders if she can still trust Muirin who is being courted by the Riders and given anything that she wants. The others all hide their friendship and try to stay under the radar. Now Oakhurst students are required to follow a gruelling training program and those that fail disappear. Spirit and Burke start digging into local history, hoping to find out who Merlin is in this age. And the Shadow Knights attack once again. At times of crisis, Spirit discovers that she does have a talent after all, that she can feed power to others. And after Muirin reveals what she has learned is planned by the enemy, Spirit will need all her courage and abilities - especially after she and Loch are targeted for assassination and allies are murdered. Tension mounts until the Spring Fling dance, when the teens are forced to run for their lives - and when Spirit's Affinity and her Destiny are revealed. This third episode ends on tragedy and a cliffhanger, leaving readers wondering where the story can possibly head next, and how Spirit and her friends might summon the power to avert what the enemy plans for the world. I for one can't wait to find out! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews